The
tomb of "Cristo Sole", that is Christ the
Sun, was discovered in 1574, during some excavations
beneath the Basilica. According to Tiberio Alfarano,
who meticulously copied the epitaph which has since
been lost, the tomb was built by the parents of the
deceased, Julius Tarpeianus.

The
pagan origin of the tomb is obvious because of the
presence of a cinerarium, although the three frescoes
on the ceiling and walls, which were decorated in
polychrome mosaics, are undoubtedly Christian.

Christ
is depicted on the vault in a chariot drawn by white
horses. The Good Shepherd was originally depicted
on one of the wall; the outline of a fisherman and
a biblical scene including Jonah appear on other walls.

The
contents of this site are for personal-educational use only. Neither text
nor images may be reproduced in any form without the permission of the
respective copyright holders.
This independent website is not endorsed by or associated with the Vatican,
the Fabbrica of St. Peter's, or any business organization
Contact: stpetersbasilica@gmail.com